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M. H. HITCHOOOK.

(No Model.)-

POTATO BIGGER.

Patented Dec. 23, 1884 WITNESSES INVBNTOR %fl/s W ATTORNEY llnrrnn STATES PATENT (C arice.

MARK H. HITOHGOOK, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARIA E. HITGHOOOK, OF SAME PLACE.

PUTATO DIGGER.

.JPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,623, dated December 23, 188%.

Application filed February 2, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it nmy'concern:

Be it known that I, hIARK H. HITOHOOOK, of Poughkeepsie, county of Dutchess, State of -New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Potato-Diggers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement in potato-diggers; and the invention consists in a potato-digger with its handles rendered adjustable on its beam by the mechanism hereinafter described; and theinvention also consists in a potato-digger rcmovably secured to its beam and provided with aseries of detachable fingers, all of which are more clearly shown, described, and specifically claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlyin section. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view, partly in section, showing shovel-plow attachment. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of beam, pivotal bolt, brackct, and handles. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of same. Fig. 5 is a plan or top view of potatodigger, partlyin section, showing attachment of fingers. Fig. 6 is a cross-section showing bend in fingers and clamping of same by shovel.

, Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

I secure to the beam A of my potatodigger a Y-shaped bracket, 13, made as a single piece, with a slot, a, in the stem of the bracket and bolt-holes b in the arms 0 thereof. Through the beam A is passed a bolt, d,which bolt also passes through the slot at in the bracket B, so that the bracket is confined or secured to the beam by means of this bolt and a set-nut, e.

To the handles 0, or, rather, to the ends thereof nearest the plow beam, are fixed plates 1'', of any suitable material, through which plates and through the ends of the handles and through the plow-beam passes ascrewbolt, 9, with a nut, 71, on one end, which fixes the ends of the handles to the plow-beam, and at the same time enables the ends of the handles to be adjusted up and down, the bolt acting as a pivot for that purpose.

Passing through the holes I; in the arms of the bracket 13, and entering into the sides of the handles 0, are bolts or screws 70. The lower end of the beam A is supplied with a bolt, Z, which passes through the end of the beam, which bolt has also fitted on it a nut, m. A cross-head, D, is now constructed with a central mortise, a. This mortise or groove is of such a width as will freely admit within it the lower end of the beam A. The wings 0 p of the cross-head extend laterally from the beam on either side of the mortise. The crosshead is triangular or crescent-shaped in outline, but curved longitudinally and transversely to receive the share or point, and being secured directly to the curved lower end of the beam, it is rigidly and securely held in place and most firmly set for receiving its attachments andsustaining the loads they have to bear.

Through the parts 0 and p of the cross-head, and at or nearly at right angles to the edges of the same, are formed a series of holes, 8. These holes are continued into a series of grooves, t. Into each hole 8 is inserted afinger, a, the end a of the finger which enters into the hole being bent somewhat,as is shown in Fig. 6, the several fingers extending backward radially or otherwise from the crosshead D. Bolted to this cross-head in any convenient manner, preferably by screw bolts and nuts, which will enable it to be removed or adjusted, is a shovel, E, which, when in place, is practically a continuation of the cross-head D.

Now,when my potato-digger is constructed substantially as hereinbefore described, its handles are adjusted or operated so that they may be made convenient for the height of the user by slackening the set-nut e, which operation permits the handles 0 to be raised or lowered to the desired height, and when adjusted the set-nut c is tightened,aud the handles maintain the position to which they have been lowered or raised.

of, the bolt Z is passed through the cross-head D and through the lower end of the beam A, and screwed in place by its nut, which at once fixes rigidly the lower end of the beam within To afiix the potato-digger to thebeam there- ICO From the foregoing it will be seen that if the fingers, or any one of them, become bent,

or if broken orloosened, they can be removed,

replaced, or tightened by simply slackening the bolts which hold the shovel to the crosshead.

If it is desired at any time to detach the potato-digger from the end of the beam and supply its place with a shovel-plow, itis obvious that this can be accomplished by fitting the share to-a cross-head corresponding with the cross-head D, or, in fact, the same cross-head, the plow being attached with the same facility and in the same manner as the potato-digger. The usual supporting-wheel, F, maybe used, and is attached to the beanrin any suitable manner. v

I am aware that it is old to make plow-handles adjustable, to vary the height thereof,

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The Y-shaped bracket B, made as a sin gle casting, with the slot a in the stem of the Y, and the arms a 0, having bolt-holes b therein, combined with the beam and handles of theplow, and the fastening bolts or screws, as

shown and described.

2. In an agricultural implement, a crosshead removably secured to the lower end of the beam thereof, and provided with holes and grooves, wherein are fitted and clamped by the shovel the fingers of a potato-digger, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the beam and share or point, of the cross-head having holes and grooves therein, and thefingers, constructed substantially as set forth, to engage said holes and grooves, and means to detachably bind all together, substantially as specified;

MARK H. HITGHGOOK.

\Vitnesses:

G. M. PLYMrToN, EDWARD L. JonNs. 

